Region’s snowfall lowest in year; skiers and resorts make do

It’s been a pretty warm winter here in the Delaware Valley. Tom Thunstrom, editor at PhillyWeather.net, says what many skiers already know:

“It’s just not a good winter in terms of snow.”
Around here, we’ve had the least snow since 2007: only a half inch of the white stuff has fallen. It’s been snowier in Midland, Tex., and Seattle, Wash. “It doesn’t seem like anything’s going to change in the next few weeks,” Thunstrom said. “We’re definitely looking like we’re going to warm back up. This time next week, we could be back above 60 degrees in Philly.” Thunstrom says some long, sustained cold fronts may come in mid-February. Maybe. “If you’re a snow lover, keep your fingers and toes crossed,” he said. “Or just go to Alaska, because that’s where the snow is so far this winter.” Geoff Smith didn’t go to Alaska, but he and some other South Jersey Ski Club members did go to Vail, Col. “One of the things that we’re doing out here is, if you put your trail maps in the freezer, you’re supposed to get some snow,” Smith said, settling for superstitition over hope.  He said smaller ski resorts may actually do better than the big ones in this kind of weather, because they can make enough enough snow to cover their smaller terrain. Call Sno Mountain near Scranton, and this is the message you hear: “We’re running 100 percent on our snow-making process continuing to do so as temperatures allow, increasing our terrain ASAP.” If ASAP isn’t soon enough for you, well, put your freezer to use.